Bizarre dispute lands man in jail

An altercation between neighbors this past weekend led to one man locking himself in his neighbor’s house and later being taken to the hospital with head injuries.

Deanna Wheeler

An altercation between neighbors this past weekend led to one man locking himself in his neighbor’s house and later being taken to the hospital with head injuries.

According to Sheriff Jim Petty, deputies were called to an Ivy Bend residence about 10:30 Friday night with a report of shots fired.

While some details remain unclear as the sheriff’s department continues its investigation, Petty said when deputies arrived at the home, they found that 40-year-old Joseph Gower had been involved in some type of physical altercation with family members. At one point, shots were fired in the Gower residence, although apparently not aimed at any particular person.

Petty said he did not know who fired the gun, but said Gower had threatened to kill several people, including a 16-year-old juvenile at the home.

Gower, who had allegedly been consuming alcohol, then went over to his neighbor’s home, where he locked all the doors.

Petty said deputies could see him through the windows sitting in a recliner and then laying on the couch.

The owners of the residence were contacted for a spare key to the front door.

Deputies were able to take Gower into custody without further incident.

However, he was soon on his way to an area hospital by helicopter. Gower was suffering from brain swelling and other injuries he had sustained sometime during the fight at his own residence, Petty said.